Q & A with Vikings RB coach Kirby Wilson

Access Vikings will be doing Q & A sessions with the Vikings' new coaching staff periodically between now and the start of training camp. Batting leadoff this morning is a guy who will now get say he's the only guy in the history of the world to have coached Emmitt Smith and Adrian Peterson:

THE KIRBY WILSON FILE

Position: Vikings running backs coach.

Born: Aug. 24, 1961 (52) in Los Angeles.

High School: Played running back and was a member of the track team at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles.

College: Was a running back at Pasadena (Calif.) City College in 1979-80 and a receiver and kick returner at the University of Illinois from 1981-82.

Pro career: Played two seasons in the CFL as a defensive back and kick returner. Played for Winnipeg in 1983 and Toronto in 1984.

At 3 a.m., two days before his Pittsburgh Steelers were to play the Broncos in Denver in an AFC Wild-Card game, a grease fire broke out in the kitchen of Wilson’s suburban Pittsburgh condo as Wilson slept on a nearby couch. Awakened and disoriented because of the smoke, Wilson fought for his life, stumbling at first into the fire before finally making his way down a flight of stairs and out of the building as burnt flesh fell from his body.

Wilson, the Steelers’ running backs coach at the time, was airlifted to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center with severe lung damage and second- and third-degree burns to nearly 50 percent of his body. Still awake as he was admitted, Wilson was immediately placed in a coma for several days.

After 45 days in intensive care, Wilson had to learn how to walk again. Much later, he would manage a smile while telling ESPN what he was thinking about during those first few steps.

“Man,” he said, “You walk like Herman Munster.”

Eight months later, Wilson was back coaching in training camp. He would coach for the Steelers through the 2012 and 2013 seasons before deciding to take the same position with the Vikings in February. James Saxon, the man he replaces, took Wilson's former job with the Steelers.

Wilson, who joins the Vikings after coaching NFL running backs for five teams over 16 seasons, took some time last month for a Q&A session with the Star Tribune. Here are the highlights:

Q: Did surviving the fire change you or give you, for lack of a better description, a new lease on life?

A: “No. I’ve always enjoyed life. I’ve always enjoyed what I do. I’ve always appreciated my life off the field and outside of football. So it just kind of reminded me that accidents happen. You fight through it and come back stronger than ever, mentally and physically, and then you move on with life. One day at a time. Enjoy them one day at a time. That’s what life is all about.”

Q: What’s going through your mind at the time? Do you remember at any point thinking, `My life is going to end right here’?

A: “No. By the time I woke up, I didn’t know what had happened. So it was all, `Hey, let’s start over.’ Once you understand what happened, you just move on. How can I fix this? How can I get better? How can I move on and get out of this predicament that I’m in? How can I get out of this hospital bed? How can I walk again, etc., etc.? I got through that process and you just overcome it. I’m no different than anybody else.

“People like to make that story about me, but it wasn’t. It was all those wonderful, great doctors and nurses and staff members in that hospital and that community that helped me and my family. My sisters and brothers helped me fight and get back. My children helped me fight to get to where I am too. So it’s about them, not about me. It’s about all those people and the sacrifices they made to help me.”

Q: Many have said you were in line to be promoted to offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh [Bruce Arians’ contract wasn’t renewed after the 2011 season] in 2012 and would be an offensive coordinator today if not for the fire. Do you think about that and wonder if you’ll ever get the opportunity to move up the coaching ladder [Wilson was one of the four leading candidates to replace Jim Caldwell as Ravens offensive coordinator in January]?

A: “In this business, if you’re driven and you’re self-motivated – and I am – then you’re always looking, planning and hoping that opportunity comes some day. But it comes from working hard. It comes from being prepared. So if you do all those things and you have some luck, maybe those opportunities will come. I’m no different than anybody else in any other profession. I would love that opportunity some day.”

Q: After spending two years as a defensive back and kick returner in the CFL in 1983 and 1984, you went right into coaching receivers at one of your alma maters, Pasadena City College. Why?

A: “I’ve always believed in myself as a teacher and a leader. I’m a guy who has always been in the front. I’ve always been a captain. I’ve always been a leader in everything I’ve been involved with. I first was attracted to being able to teach. From that it was on to coaching and teaching and mentoring young players in junior college, major college and on to the National Football League. So it’s a lifelong passion of mine, teaching and coaching. I’m extremely fortunate to be able to do that at the highest level right now.”

Q: What’s your career highlight as a player?

A: “Wow. You know, just being part of really, really good football teams. I think that’s been the biggest highlight. At [Dorsey High School in Los Angeles], going from a winless season to a championship season from my junior to senior year. And in junior college, being part of a really dynamic, special group of people, a great program at Pasadena City College. And then going to Illinois and going from a perennial basement team to a bowl-caliber team year in and year out.”

Q: You were a receiver and kick returner at Illinois in 1981-82. Why switch to defensive back and punt returner in the CFL?

A: “I had never played DB before. Didn’t play it in high school, didn’t play it in college. Bill Polian – the Bill Polian -- was the general manager of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. I was so bad as a receiver when I was trying out that he told me to switch over to defense and guard the other receivers. And I did a fair enough job that they liked what they say and signed me. I ended up starting a bunch of games my rookie season. That was a lot of fun.”

Q: You had 34 career catches for 437 yards and one touchdown at Illinois (1981-82). How did you end up at receiver after leaving Pasadena as a running back?

A: “Yes, I was switched from running back to wide receiver and enjoyed it. I had a great experience. I had great teachers there. [Then-head coach] Mike White and [assistants] Chip Myers and Brad Childress. Some really, really good coaches. [Myers, who died in 1999, was a former Vikings assistant coach. Childress, of course, was Vikings head coach from 2006 through the 10th game of the 2010 season].

Q: What’s your career highlight as a coach?

A: “Being a part of championships. No question. Winning two Super Bowls in the two conferences. One in Tampa Bay [Super Bowl XXXVII] in the NFC and one in Pittsburgh [XLIII] in the AFC. It doesn’t get any better than that. That’s one thing I want to help bring here to Minnesota. That’s the goal.”

Q: To the people who don’t know, describe the feeling of celebrating a Super Bowl win. What are you thinking as the confetti is coming down?

A: “Just all the hard work paying off and how happy you are for the players, the coaches, the fans, the families of those involved. You’ve done it. It’s something you’ve worked extremely hard for and had a lot of luck and hard work that paid off. To experience that, it’s something you’ll never forget. And once you taste it, you will always want more.”

Q: You started coaching at Pasadena City College in 1985. Tell us how far the NFL is 2014 is from Pasadena City College in 1985.

A: “I was just a raw rookie trying to learn. To the point where I am today, I’ve seen a lot and been around a lot of great players. I’ve learned from a lot of great players and hopefully I’ve played at least a small part in helping them develop as players and achieving their goals. From back in 1985 to today is night and day.”

Q: Did you have to line the fields or take out the trash or anything like that back in 1985?

A: “We didn’t have to line the fields, but it was close to that. Just doing a lot of odd jobs. Running a lot of errands. Making calls in recruiting, supervising the weight room. There’s class checks, calling around trying to find jobs for current players. There’s a lot of ins and outs that you do.”

Q: Finish this sentence: “In high school, I wanted to be …”

A: “I wanted to be an NFL star.”

Q: And when that didn’t happen, how did you accept it?

A: “It was no problem for me. I got older and adjusted my dreams and goals. I realized I wasn’t going to be an NFL star because I wasn’t good enough. No. 1. No. 2, I wanted to play professionally and get paid to prove I could do it, show that I had some type of ability to play. And I did that. But I was a realist and knew that I had hit the limit and that it was all going to be downhill from there. From there, I went to the next step and became a football coach, whether it was high school, college or wherever.”

Q: Best player you ever coached and why?

A: “Wow. You can’t answer that in one player, but if you just go by record, you’d have to say Emmitt Smith [with the Cardinals in 2004] because he’s the all-time NFL leader in rushing.”

Q: What made Emmitt, Emmitt?

A: “A special guy, in terms of his preparation. He was special in his attention to details. He was driven, he was self-motivated. He had all the things you have to have to say you’re going to be good at running the ball in the National Football League: Vision, instincts, change of direction.”

Q: At this point, what do you know about Adrian Peterson besides the obvious that we all know?

A: “Nothing. That’s what I’m looking forward to, working with him and the other running backs. He is a special player. You know that from the first moment you watch him play. He’s a special talent, and with that, you know that he must be a special worker. So I would imagine that he’s no different from the other great players that I’ve coached and been around. They work extremely hard and they put in the time.”

Q: Knowing that you weren’t good enough to be an NFL star, is it harder to coach an Emmitt Smith or an Adrian Peterson, guys who were or are superstars in the league?

A: “No. It isn’t. What you try to get them to see is you’re never going to ask one to do something that you didn’t ask the other. I’ve coached 95 different running backs in the National Football League, whether it be in meetings, practices or game day. That’s 95 running backs who have sat in a room with me. I’ve never asked one of them to do something that I didn’t ask No. 95 to do. It’s all the same. It’s about the fundamentals, attention to details and the preparation.”

Q: You really had to pay your dues in coaching. From Pasadena City College to two years at Los Angeles Southwest College to Southern Illinois, Wyoming and Iowa State before getting your first NFL job. Did you ever consider quitting?

A: “Never. I love what I do and I always love where I’m doing it.”

Q: If you hadn’t become a coach, what would you be doing?

A: “I would be a teacher. Most likely at the high school level. Or at some point an instructor at a community college.”

Q: You’ve coached multiple positions and at one point were a defensive coordinator in college. How did you end up settling in as a running backs coach once you got to the NFL?

A: “It started at Iowa State back in 1995. The head coach, Dan McCarney, asked me to change positions from defensive backs. I agreed. It was a move up in terms of the level of coaching. I was coaching at the University of Wyoming. Going to Iowa State was a move up. We weren’t very good, but that was the spark for me changing over from defense to offense. Once I got in that position, I enjoyed it and poured everything I had into it. It’s been great for my career.”

Q: Why leave Pittsburgh, one of the league’s elite franchises, for the same position in Minnesota?

A: “At some point, you’re always looking to explore and see what else is out there. It was just time for something different. I spent seven years in Pittsburgh with the organization, the players and the community. I was looking to do something a little different so that’s why I’m here.”

Q: Describe your relationship with Norv Turner.

A: “I was his running backs coach with the Washington Redskins [2000]. It was an awesome experience. I was coming to work Norv late in the spring when I got there. It was a similar system to what we had in New England with Ernie Zampese, so there was a level of understanding of what he wanted. I just had to learn the players and his terminology. It was a great fit and I really enjoyed my time working with him in Washington and look forward to working with him here. Norv is the same. He’s a great people person. He’s obviously got a great background working with high level offenses, so I think it’s going to be exciting.”

Q: What is your strength and what would you say is your ultimate career goal?

A: “My attention to detail, my preparation, are my stengths. My ultimate goal is to climb as high as I can in this profession and see where that takes me. I have no idea where that will be or where it will lead to, other than the next step is coordinator or head coach. But for right now, my goal is to work hard, prepare hard and coach the running backs to the best of my ability, go to the Super Bowl, win it and then see what happens.”

Q: It would seem that the only coaching a guy like Adrian would need is someone to hand him the ball and step aside. How do you coach an Adrian Peterson?

A: “I think you coach him the say way you coach Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees. The coaches and men who work with those players recognize that No. 1, their talents, their greatness, their attention to details. You as a coach, you are their eyes. It’s about preparation. It’s about planning. It’s about relationships. You work on that. That’s how you work with those players. You teach them the gameplan and then great players do what they do best, which is make great plays. You try not to over-coach them. They’re all veterans, they’ve all had levels of success. There’s a certain point where you have to step back and let these players do what they do best. Coaching them is no different than coaching most great players. You prepare him, you teach and then you step back. You just kind of point him in the right direction.